Ground-based electromagnetic (EM) and drill-hole ice and snow thickness measurements during Polarstern cruise ARK-XVII/2 in 2001

Late-summer thickness distributions of large ice floes in the Transpolar Drift between Svalbard and the North Pole in 1991, 1996, 1998, and 2001 are compared. They have been derived from drilling and electromagnetic (EM) sounding. Results show a strong interannual variability, with significantly reduced thickness in 1998 and 2001. The mean thickness decreased by 22.5% from 3.11 m in 1991 to 2.41 m in 2001, and the modal thickness by 22% from 2.50 m in 1991 to 1.95 m in 2001. Since modal thickness represents the thickness of level ice, the observed thinning reflects changes in thermodynamic conditions. Together with additional data from the Laptev Sea obtained in 1993, 1995, and 1996, results are in surprising agreement with recently published thickness anomalies retrieved from satellite radar altimetry for Arctic regions south of 81.5°N. This points to a strong sensitivity of radar altimetry data to level ice thickness.

Fatigued driving : prevalence, risk factors and groups, and the law

Fatigue and sleepiness are major causes of road traffic accidents. However, precise data is often lacking because a validated and reliable device for detecting the level of sleepiness (cf. the breathalyzer for alcohol levels) does not exist, nor does criteria for the unambiguous detection of fatigue/sleepiness as a contributing factor in accident causation. Therefore, identification of risk factors and groups might not always be easy. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to incorporate fatigue in operationalized terms into either traffic or criminal law. The main aims of this thesis were to estimate the prevalence of fatigue problems while driving among the Finnish driving population, to explore how VALT multidisciplinary investigation teams, Finnish police, and courts recognize (and prosecute) fatigue in traffic, to identify risk factors and groups, and finally to explore the application of the Finnish Road Traffic Act (RTA), which explicitly forbids driving while tired in Article 63. Several different sources of data were used: a computerized database and the original folders of multidisciplinary teams investigating fatal accidents (VALT), the driver records database (AKE), prosecutor and court decisions, a survey of young male military conscripts, and a survey of a representative sample of the Finnish active driving population. The results show that 8-15% of fatal accidents during 1991-2001 were fatigue related, that every fifth Finnish driver has fallen asleep while driving at some point during his/her driving career, and that the Finnish police and courts punish on average one driver per day on the basis of fatigued driving (based on the data from the years 2004-2005). The main finding regarding risk factors and risk groups is that during the summer months, especially in the afternoon, the risk of falling asleep while driving is increased. Furthermore, the results indicate that those with a higher risk of falling asleep while driving are men in general, but especially young male drivers including military conscripts and the elderly during the afternoon hours and the summer in particular; professional drivers breaking the rules about duty and rest hours; and drivers with a tendency to fall asleep easily. A time-of-day pattern of sleep-related incidents was repeatedly found. It was found that VALT teams can be considered relatively reliable when assessing the role of fatigue and sleepiness in accident causation; thus, similar experts might be valuable in the court process as expert witnesses when fatigue or sleepiness are suspected to have a role in an accident’s origins. However, the application of Article 63 of the RTA that forbids, among other things, fatigued driving will continue to be an issue that deserves further attention. This should be done in the context of a needed attitude change towards driving while in a state of extreme tiredness (e.g., after being awake for more than 24 hours), which produces performance deterioration comparable to illegal intoxication (BAC around 0.1%). Regarding the well-known interactive effect of increased sleepiness and even small alcohol levels, the relatively high proportion (up to 14.5%) of Finnish drivers owning and using a breathalyzer raises some concern. This concern exists because these drivers are obviously more focused on not breaking the “magic” line of 0.05% BAC than being concerned about driving impairment, which might be much worse than they realize because of the interactive effects of increased sleepiness and even low alcohol consumption. In conclusion, there is no doubt that fatigue and sleepiness problems while driving are common among the Finnish driving population. While we wait for the invention of reliable devices for fatigue/sleepiness detection, we should invest more effort in raising public awareness about the dangerousness of fatigued driving and educate drivers about how to recognize and deal with fatigue and sleepiness when they ultimately occur.

Labor Regulations and Unionization Trends: Comparative Analysis of Latin American Countries

This paper discusses the influences of labor regulations on unionization rates through the comparative analysis of Argentina, Chile and Mexico, expecting to contribute to the understanding of the determinants of unionization in Latin America. These regulations, though only one of the factors determining unionization levels, have a crucial role, their influence being at least threefold: they define entitlements to and exclusions from the right to unionize, affect union recruitment strategies and, by generating incentives and disincentives, contribute to shape individual membership decisions. After discussing historical aspects of unionization in the three countries, the analysis centers successively in two periods in which the countries compared showed both similarities and contrasts relevant to the analysis of unionization trends. In the first, the comparison is between Argentina (1976-83) and Chile (1973-89), both under military regimes that had much in common, but with contrasting unionization trends. In the second, the focus is in Argentina (1991-2001) and Mexico (1984-2000), where the reforms implemented to liberalize the economy and ensuing social-economic and labor market transformations were similar, but unionization trends differed. It is argued that, in each case, the divergent behavior of unionization, in spite of the similar economic and sociopolitical contexts, may at least partly be attributed to differences in key labor institutions.

Total hip arthroplasty in young patients : with special references to patients under 55 years of age and to patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip

There is an ongoing controversy as to which methods in total hip arthroplasty (THA) could provide young patients with best long-term results. THA is an especially demanding operation in patients with severely dysplastic hips. The optimal surgical treatment for these patients also remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term survival of THA in young patients (<55 years at the time of the primary operation) on a nation-wide level, and to analyze the long-term clinical and radio-graphical outcome of uncemented THA in patients with severely dysplastic joints. Survival of 4661 primary THAs performed for primary osteoarthritis (OA), 2557 primary THAs per-formed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and modern uncemented THA designs performed for primary OA in young patients, were analysed from the Finnish Arthroplasty Register. A total of 68 THAs were per-formed in 56 consecutive patients with high congenital hip dislocation between 1989-1994, and 68 THAs were performed in 59 consecutive patients with severely dysplastic hips and a previous Schanz osteotomy of the femur between 1988-1995 at the Orton Orthopaedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. These patients underwent a detailed physical and radiographical evaluation at a mean of 12.3 years and 13.0 years postoperatively, respectively. The risk of stem revision due to aseptic loosening in young patients with primary OA was higher for cemented stems than for proximally porous-coated or HA-coated uncemented stems implanted over the 1991-2001 period. There was no difference in the risk of revision between all-poly cemented-cups and press-fit porous-coated uncemented cups implanted during the same period, when the end point was defined as any revision (including exchange of liner). All uncemented stem designs studied in young patients with primary OA had >90% survival rates at 10 years. The Biomet Bi-Metric stem had a 95% (95% CI 93-97) survival rate even at 15 years. When the end point was defined as any revision, 10 year survival rates of all uncemented cup designs except the Harris-Galante II decreased to <80%. In young patients with RA, the risk of stem revision due to aseptic loosening was higher with cemented stems than with proximally porous-coated uncemented stems. In contrast, the risk of cup revision was higher for all uncemented cup concepts than for all-poly cemented cups with any type of cup revision as the end point. The Harris hip score increased significantly (p<0.001) both in patients with high con-genital hip dislocation and in patients with severely dysplastic hips and a previous Schanz osteotomy, treated with uncemented THA. There was a negative Trendelenburg sign in 92% and in 88% of hips, respectively. There were 12 (18%) and 15 (22%) perioperative complications. The rate of survival for the CDH femoral components, with revision due to aseptic loosening as the end point, was 98% (95% CI 97-100) at 10 years in patients with high hip dislocation and 92% (95% CI, 86-99) at 14 years in patients with a previous Schanz osteotomy. The rate of survival for press-fit, porous-coated acetabular components, with revision due to aseptic loosening as the end point, was 95% (95% CI 89-100) at 10 years in patients with high hip dislocation, and 98% (95% CI 89-100) in patients with a previous Schanz osteotomy. When revision of the cup for any reason was defined as the end point, 10 year sur-vival rates declined to 88% (95% CI 81-95) and to 69% (95% CI, 56-82), respectively. For young patients with primary OA, uncemented proximally circumferentially porous- and HA-coated stems are the implants of choice. However, survival rates of modern uncemented cups are no better than that of all-poly cemented cups. Uncemented proximally circumferentially porous-coated stems and cemented all-poly cups are currently the implants of choice for young patients with RA. Uncemented THA, with placement of the cup at the level of the true acetabulum, distal advancement of the greater trochanter and femoral shortening osteotomy provided patients with high congenital hip dislocation good long-term outcomes. Most of the patients with severely dysplastic hips and a previous Schanz osteotomy can be successfully treated with the same method. However, the subtrochanteric segmental shortening with angular correction gives better leg length correction for the patients with a previous low-seated unilateral Schanz osteotomy.

海南长臂猿(Nomascus hainanus)生境变化与潜在适宜生境研究

海南长臂猿(Nomascus hainanus)是世界上最濒危的灵长类之一，曾经广泛分 布于海南岛的低海拔地区，但现已濒临灭绝；生境变化被认为是它的主要致危因 素之一。为了探讨过去十多年中它们的生境变化原因和变化趋势，并在整个海南 岛内寻找它们的潜在生境，为制订保护计划提供帮助，我们利用遥感和地理信息 系统技术对海南长臂猿的生境状况进行了分析。海南长臂猿的高质量生境是成熟 的山地雨林和沟谷雨林，根据卫星遥感影像的识别能力，我们把成熟林定义为海 南长臂猿的适宜生境，通过对1991 年和2001 年拍摄的Landsat 卫星影像的解译， 我们分析比较了海南岛林地在这十年内的变化情况；通过这两个时期成熟林不同 大小斑块数量与面积的比较，以及成熟林平均斑块面积、斑块密度、斑块之间的 最近距离平均值、最大斑块所占面积等四个破碎化参数的计算，分析了海南长臂 猿高质量生境十年来的生境破碎化趋势；还对不同海拔带的人工林、天然林以及 成熟林的变化情况进行了比较；进而通过海南岛林地变化与社会和经济因素相关 性分析对海南长臂猿生境变化的原因进行了探讨。 结果显示，海南岛的成熟林面积由1991 年的157,927 hm2 减少到2001 年的 107,597 hm2，降低了32％；大小分别为10 hm2、25 hm2、50 hm2、100 hm2、200 hm2 的成熟林斑块的面积和数量都有所下降，并且自然保护区外的下降程度比自 然保护区内严重，省级自然保护区的下降程度比国家级自然保护区的严重。海南 岛现存最大的成熟林斑块位于鹦哥岭省级自然保护区。在这十年中，成熟林破碎 化程度加重，具体表现为平均斑块面积减少、斑块密度增加、斑块之间最近距离 平均值减小、最大斑块所占面积减少。在0-800 m 海拔带上，成熟林的下降比率 达到了36％，在这个海拔带上的人工林面积已远远大于天然林，在800-1400 m 海拔带上，成熟林的下降比率为23％，天然林的面积大于人工林。统计分析显 示当地的农业人口和农业总产值与成熟林的面积呈显著负相关(R =-0.534 P＜ 0.01；R =-0.512 P＜0.01)，同时农业人口与人工林和耕地面积呈显著正相关(R =0.611 P＜0.05；R =0.759, P＜0.05)，这说明成熟林下降与人口增长带来的耕地 扩张以及为了追求经济增长而大量种植人工林密切相关。而海南长臂猿曾经广泛分布在低海拔地区，这一带上大面积的生境丧失使它们的种群在短期内濒临灭 绝。 为了对未来海南长臂猿的生境保护和种群恢复提供帮助，我们利用地理信息 系统Arcgis 软件分析了海南长臂猿2001 年的生境空间分布格局，以成熟林的面 积和距离为指标预测了海南长臂猿的潜在适宜生境。结果显示，至2001 年，海 南岛除了白马岭、南高岭、抱龙、俄贤岭四个地方外，长臂猿的适宜生境多半分 布于自然保护区内；海南长臂猿目前唯一的分布地位于昌江县和白沙县交界的坝 王岭自然保护区，并且只活动于核心区内的一小块地区，此处有两段公路在使用 中，对海南长臂猿的保护不利。 根据上述研究结果，我们建议政府采取措施严格控制海南长臂猿潜在适宜生 境分布地的人口增长，切实执行天然林保护法，并设法恢复低海拔地带的天然植 被。建议在白马岭、南高岭、抱龙、俄贤岭建立四个新的自然保护区，把鹦哥岭 自然保护区从省级提升到国家级。在坝王岭自然保护区的低海拔地带种植本土速 生树种，将海南长臂猿活动区周围的小斑块与大斑块连接到一起，并设法消除该 保护区内两段公路对海南长臂猿的较大负面影响，提高海南长臂猿的生境质量并 扩大其活动范围。同时在自然保护区周边社区大力开展环境保护教育，努力使当 地人可以从生态系统保护中受益。

Transformaciones recientes de productores familiares pampeanos : una comparación censal 1988 - 2002 en Pergamino

p.127-139

Modelos de desarrollo, unificación y “desterritorialización”.

El presente estudio tiene el objetivo de ofrecer una visión general sobre los Modelos de Desarrollo y Organización Territorial desde la perspectiva de las relaciones entre el medio urbano, “rururbano” y rural, en España. Para ello, tras conocer y valorar los enfoque conceptuales y temáticos, se estudia el crecimiento urbano en nuestro país en las últimas décadas, analizando de manera pormenorizada la importancia que ha cobrado y cobra la aplicación legislativa de leyes, planes y normas, tanto en el propio crecimiento urbano como en la demanda de viviendas en las ciudades españolas y, de igual modo, la vinculación de ambas con el precio de las viviendas, relacionándolo con la problemática de la “rururbanización”, y del medio rural.

Impacte da qualidade do ar urbana na saúde pública: o caso da cidade do Porto

O benzeno foi o primeiro poluente atmosférico carcinogénico a ser regulamentado a nível europeu. Vários trabalhos têm sido publicados demonstrando a relação deste poluente com diversos tipos de neoplasias nomeadamente decorrentes de exposições a nível ocupacional. Porém, o estudo deste poluente para concentrações atmosféricas em ambientes exteriores ainda é pouco conhecido e está em clara evolução. Neste sentido, este trabalho pretende ser um contributo para o conhecimento da relação entre o benzeno atmosférico e a incidência de patologias que afectam os tecidos linfáticos e órgãos hematopoiéticos nomeadamente linfomas de Hodgkin, linfomas de não-Hodgkin e leucemias na população residente na Área Metropolitana do Porto. Dado a quase ausência de dados de monitorização das concentrações de benzeno atmosférico actualmente em Portugal, estas foram estimadas com base na definição de uma relação entre o benzeno e o monóxido de carbono. O conhecimento das concentrações em todo o domínio de estudo baseou-se na análise dos dados da Rede Automática de Monitorização da Qualidade do Ar porém, de modo a aumentar o detalhe espacial e temporal recorreu-se à modelação atmosférica aplicando o modelo TAPM. Para perceber a evolução temporal das concentrações, a modelação foi efectuada para os anos de 1991, 2001 e 2006 com base no ano meteorológico de 2006 e emissões para os respectivos anos ao nível da freguesia. O modelo foi previamente validado de acordo com uma metodologia proposta para este tipo de modelos. Contudo, mais do que perceber qual a variação da qualidade do ar a nível exterior, é importante conhecer o impacte de fontes interiores e o seu efeito na população. Assim, desenvolveu-se um modelo de exposição e dose que permitem conhecer os valores médios populacionais. A modelação da exposição populacional é efectuada com base nos perfis de actividade-tempo, nos movimentos pendulares inter-concelhos e nas concentrações de benzeno em ambientes exteriores e interiores. Na modelação da dose é ainda possível variações por sexo e idade. Por outro lado, para o estudo das patologias em análise efectuou-se uma análise epidemiológica espacial nomeadamente no que respeita à elaboração de mapas de incidência padronizados pela idade, e estudo da associação com a exposição ao benzeno atmosférico. Os resultados indicam associação entre o benzeno e as doenças em estudo. Esta evidência é mais notória quando a análise é realizada junto às principais fontes de emissão deste poluente, vias de tráfego e postos de abastecimento de combustível. Porém, a ausência de informação limita o estudo não permitindo o controlo de potenciais variáveis de confundimento como a exposição ao fumo do tabaco. A metodologia permite efectuar uma gestão integrada da qualidade do ar exterior e interior, funcionando como uma ferramenta do apoio à decisão para elaboração de planos de prevenção de longo prazo de potenciais efeitos na saúde das populações nomeadamente para outro tipo de patologias.